Mayor urges Moreland councillor Michael Teti to stand down

Richard Baker

The Mayor and chief executive of the Moreland City Council have urged a councillor charged by police with firearms offences to stand down until his court matters are resolved.

Fairfax Media this morning revealed councillor and ALP figure Michael Teti has been charged with firearms offences and recently had an arrest warrant issued after he failed to appear before court.

Moreland Mayor Lambros Tapinos said he and other councillors were shocked and disappointed by today's report.

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Cr Tapinos said the council was seeking legal advice on whether it could refer the matters involving Cr Teti for further investigation by bodies such as the Local Government Inspector, the Ombudsman or the Independent Broad-based Anti Corruption Commission.

He said the council had limited powers to stand down Cr Teti. He said the Victorian Parliament needed to review local government laws to give councils more power to deal with alleged misconduct by elected officials.

Moreland City Council chief executive Peter Brown said today's report was the first anyone in the council knew of Cr Teti's charges and dealings with alleged Mafia figures.

Mr Brown said both he and the Mayor had today urged Cr Teti to go on leave until his legal matters were resolved.

"This matter is damaging to council's standing in the community, we are seeking legal advice to determine what council can do. Cr Teti is facing charges, so we need to be careful not to be seen to be pre-emptive of the court action. It would be best for all if Cr Teti sought a leave of absence until this matter was resolved," he said.

Labor Leader Daniel Andrews said if the allegations against Cr Teti were proven then he should be expelled from the ALP.

"I don't know that I have ever met this person. I certainly don't know him. If any of these matters are proven against him, there will be no place for him in the Australian Labor Party," Mr Andrews said.

The Opposition Leader first became aware of the allegations when he read The Age on Monday morning.

Mr Andrews did not answer directly questions about a review of the local branch membership, other than to say if matters were proven there was no place in the ALP for Cr Teti.

"I'm not aware of any other claims or any other allegations; I just want to be very clear about that … If there is any other information people should go forward to the authorities."